Oxygen lance support coupling



1963 J. H. BRENNAN 3,406,990

OXYGEN LANCE SUPPORT COUPLING Original Filed Sept. 29, 1965 2Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. James h. Brennan 12 nan/Ming A T TOR/VEYS Oct.22, 1968 J. H. BRENNAN OXYGEN LANCE SUPPORT COUPLING Original FiledSept. 29, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. James H. Brennan 2%, h w WMH/S ATTORNEYS 3,406,990 OXYGEN LANCE SUPPORT COUPLING James H. Brennan,65 Parkridge Lane, Pittsburgh, Pa. 15228 Continuation of applicationSer. No. 491,317, Sept. 29, 1965. This application Nov. 1, 1967, Ser.No. 683,087 10 Claims. (Cl. 285310) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A quicklylatching and releasable coupling for a smooth wall tubing member; suchas an oxygen blowing lance for a BOF furnace, is provided that uses alocking spring and a ring assembly to receive the member. A cant screwis adapted to move a portion of the ring backwardly against forceexerted by the spring ofthe assembly into a canted locking relationwith'respect to the member. A safety screw is adapted to engage theassembly to prevent an opposite portion of the ring from moving, asunder a jarring force, from a forward position to a backward position atwhich the ring will lose its canted locking relation.

This invention relates to a coupling for carrying, supporting orsuspending a pipe, conduit or tubing member and particularly, to acoupling for carrying, suspending or supporting an oxygen lance, such asused for supplying oxygen or a mixture of gases to an open hearth,electric, oxygen converter or other type of metal melting and refiningfurnace. This application is a continuation of application S.N. 491,317filed Sept. 29, 1965, and now abandoned.

A coupling for the above type of employment should have a quick lockingand release type of operation to facilitate replacement of the gas blowlance, pipe or nozzle member, since the lower portion of the lance isgradually consumed due to the heat generated and thus, one or morelances may be required for a single so-called oxygen blow or forsupplying oxygen gas to one socalled furnace charge or heat. Difiicultyhas been encountered in providing a coupling that will both provide afully leakproof connection to a gas supply main and a positive retentionof the pipe or nozzle, when, for example, the assembly is subjected tocustomary rough usage.

In couplings heretofore available, there has been a tendency for thelance or pipe member to be inadvertently loosened or released when theassembly is hit or subjected to a hard knock or blow.

It has thus been an object of my invention to devise a coupling thatfully meets requirements of a lance connector-holder and that solves theproblem of inadvertent release of the lance;

Another object has been to provide an improved positive-seal,quick-release coupling of a lance or pipe member supporting or holdingtype;

A further object has been to provide a lance supporting or suspendingcoupling that is positive and foolproof in its holding action, andirrespective of rough usage to which is may be subjected;

These and other objects of my invention will appear to those skilled inthe art in view of the illustrated embodiment and the claims.

In the drawings,

FIGURE 1 is a full scale view in section, taken vertically orlongitudinally through a coupling unit of my invention, and showingpositioning of elements or parts thereof after a lance or pipe memberhas been initially slidably-inserted and before it is locked or securedin position therein;

nited States Patent F 3,406,990 Patented Oct. 22, 1968 FIGURE 2 is avertical or longitudinal view on the scale of an showing the outside ofthe unit of FIGURE 1, with the unit turned and with locking screw partsremoved;

FIGURE 3 is a reduced perspective view in elevation showing details ofthe construction of a flanged end cap or collar part of the couplingunit of FIGURES l and 2;

FIGURE 4 is a bottom plan end view on the scale of and of the unitassembly of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view on the same scale as and similar to FIGURE1, but showing the lance or pipe member in a sealed-off, connected andlocked-in, final position within the coupling unit;

And FIGURE 6 is a greatly reduced fragmental side view in elevationillustrating an application of the coupling and lance assembly of FIGURE5.

In accordance with my invention, I provide a quicklydetachable couplingunit 10 whose upstream end is, as shown in FIGURE 6, adapted to bethreadably-connected at its upstream or back end to an oxygen or gassupply line, pipe or connector end of a flexible hose D and to, in turn,support or carry an oxygen supply lance, nozzle or pipe member C in aprojecting relation from its forward or downstream end.

In FIGURE 6, the lance C is shown extending through an opening in anexhaust hood B that is positioned over the mouth of a converter vesselor furnace A in an abovepositioned ready position to be lowered into thevessel for blowing a metal charge therein. The lance C may be abouttwenty feet in length, may or may not have a nozzle on its discharge ordownstream end, and will usually have an outer diameter of up to aboutone inch. The lance C may also be used by inserting it through the sideof an electric furnace, or through the roof or side of an open hearthfurnace. The assembly may be suspended overhead in a plant or carried ona suitable cart.

The coupling unit 10 eliminates the need for threading the end of theoxygen lance C and makes possible the use of a plain or smooth-wall pipeor lance member. It connects the gas or oxygen line in a matter ofseconds in a fully fluid sealed-off relation, and positively andsecurely holds the lance in a coupled relation with respect thereto.

With particular reference to FIGURES l to 3 of the drawings, I haveshown a housing body 11 having a through-extending longitudinal boretherein. The upstream or inlet end of the housing 11 has means forremovably-securely connecting its bore to a gas supply line, shown ashaving a slightly enlarged boss or inlet connector portion 11a. Asdisclosed in FIGURE 2, the outer surface of the portion 11a may have awrench flat for facilitating connecting it to the supply pipe D. Theinlet connector portion 11a has a bore portion 11b within which aninternally-threaded bushing, grommet or sleeve insert 12 is securelymounted. In this connection, it Will be noted that the upper end of theportion 11a is upsetinwardly and that the bore portion 11b and thegrommet 12 have cooperating tongue and groove connections. The grommet12 has a tapered or inwardly-converging threaded bore 12a which isadapted to cooperativelyreceive and to be securely-removably mounted ona threaded male end of the supply pipe D. Connecting body portion of thehousing 11 is shown of cylindrical shape and as extending from theWrench-flat-shaped, upper boss portion 11a to a lower, slightlyenlarged, lower body portion 11 which, as shown particularly in FIG-URES 2 and 3, is connected on one side to an outwardlyprojecting,angular, screw-mounting, forward boss portion 11h and, on its oppositeside, to a screw-mounting, circular boss 11k.

It will be noted that the bore portion 1112, at its forward end,terminates in a ledge which with the inner end of the grommet 12 engagesand is connected by a slightly smaller diameter bore portion 11a, to anenlarged central bore portion 11e of the central body portion 110. Theangular-shaped boss portion 11h has a bore lli which is open-inwardly tothe bore 11e through a radially-enlarged spring-receiving bore portion11g, and is openforwardly to a grommet-receiving bore 11 The boss 11k isprovided with a grommet-receiving bore 11l that is also also open to thespring-receiving bore portion 11g.

The lower body portion llf'terniinates at its forward or downstream endin an outwardly-projecting bottom flange 11/12 which surmounts itsdownstream open end portion. It will be noted that the flange 1 1m isprovided with peripherally spaced-apart threaded openings lln forthreaded receiving bolts 20 to removablyesecure a downstream flanged endcap 19 in position, as shown particularly in FIGURE 1. p p

The bore portion 11a carries a sleeve-like, resilient, annular gasket,washer or sealing bumper 13 therein which may have about a 60 hardness.At its upper or upstream end, the sleeve gasket 13 rests against theunderside of an outwardly-projecting flange portion 14b of aloose-grommet bushing or positioning sleeve 14. It will be noted thatthe upper side of the flange 14b rests against an abutment face 12b ofan offset lower end portion of the fixed grommet 12, and that thepositioning sleeve 14 extends along and supports the inner periphery ofthe sealing gasket 13 to terminate a short distance from its lower end(see FIGURE 1).

A slide sleeve element or part 16 is slidably-fit within intermediatebore portion lle of the housing 11 to, at its upper end, abut against anupper ledge 15 that lies between the bore portions 11d and lle. At itslower end, the slide sleeve 16 has a radially-outwardly-projectingannular flange 16a which rests on its upper side against a ledge portion15a defined between the bore portion He and the spring-receiving boreportion 11g.

A locking, spiral tension spring 17 is operativelypositioned within thebore 11g to, at its upper end, abut against the lower face of the flange16a and to, at its lower end, abut against a cant or annular lockingring 18 (shown of square cross-section). The ring 18 rests on the inneror end edge of the sleeve portion of front end closure cap 19. As shownparticularly in FIGURES 1 and 3, annular, transversely or radiallyprojecting flange portion 19b of the cap 19 has peripherallyspaced-apart bore holes therethrough to bypass the threaded bolts 20which are secured in position within the flange portion 11m of thehousing. As shown particularly in FIGURES l and 3, the closure cap 19has an open-side slot 19a to bypass an adjustable locking means in theform of a side-mounted, locking screw or stem 21.

On the right side of the housing 11 in FIGURES 1 and 5, theangular-shaped boss portion 1111 has a bore 111' which is adapted tosecurely-receive and mount a bearing insert or grommet 24. As shown, thegrommet 24 and the bore 11 may have a complementary tongue and grooveinterfitting relation to securely retain the grommet in position withinthe bore. The grommet 24 has a centrally-threaded bore therethrough toadjustably-re ceive the locking screw or threaded stem 21 therein. Thescrew 21, which may also be termed a cant screw, is provided with anoperating head portion 21a at its inner end that is shown of a circularconfiguration with a flat end. The head 21a is adapted to engage thecant ring or annulus 18. At its outwardly-projecting end portion, thescrew 21 has a hand wheel 22 secured thereon by means of athrough-extending lock sleeve 23.

The opposite side boss portion 11k is shown as having its central bore111 threaded to removably-receive a bushing or grommet 25 therein. Thebushing 25 is internally-threaded to adjustably-receive a safety-lockscrew or threaded stem 26. The stem 26, at its inner end, has aforwardly-converging cone or wedge-shaped head 26a that is adapted to bemoved into and out of wedging engagement between adjacent convolutionsof the locking spring 17 adjacent the ring 18 (compare FIGURES l and 5)to retain the ring in position against the inner end of the sleeve-likeportion of the end cap 19. The head 26a may also move between the ring18 and a forward convolution of the spring 17 (not shown). Like the lockscrew 21, the safety screw 26 is provided with a hand wheel 27 mountedon its outwardly-extending end and secured thereto by athrough-extending locking sleeve 28.

In employing the coupling unit 10 of my invention, the inlet or upstreamend of the lance or pipe member C is cndwise slid or inserted, as shownin FIGURE 1, through the central opening in the flanged cap 19 and alongits sleeve-like portion, through the cant ring 18, along the innerdiameter of the spring 17, and within and along the slide sleeve 16,untilits forward end or edge lies adjacent to or abuts an end sealingface or seat of the sleeve-, like gasket 13. When this has beenaccomplished, the pipe member C and the various operating parts of theunit 10 bear the relationship shown in FIGURE 1. v

To secure the pipe member C in a fluid sealed-off relation within thecoupling 10, the hand wheel 22 of the locking screw 21 is thentightened-down to the position shown in FIGURE 5, in such a manner thatits head 21a cants one portion or side of the ring 18 which isloosely-positioned on the outer diameter of the lance or pipe member C,so as to compress an adjacent side of convolutions 0f the spring 17towards each other. The frictional engagement of the ring 18 with thepipe member C during the backward canting of its one side, provides aninward move: ment of the pipe member C, such that its inner edge or endis now tightly-sealed against the sealing end of the gasket 13, and thegasket 13 tightly seals-off the joint within the unit 10. There isthusno possibility of fluid leakage. This inward movement will normallybeabout to of an inch. It will be noted that, even if the end of thepipe member C is not initially fully manually pushed into abuttingengagement with the sleeve gasket 13, the operation of the screw 21accomplishes it by causing a further inward movement of the pipe memberover and above the approximately 7552 inch movement which is employed toprovide the sealing-off action.

Although the above inward movement of the screw 21 tends to lock thepipe member C in a fluid sealed-off position within the unit 10, Iemploy safety screw 26 which, as shown in FIGURE 5, is screwed-inbetween a pair of adjacent convolutions of the spring 17, so as topositively retain the mechanism in a canted, locked position,irrespective of whether or not the coupling is hit a hard blow. That is,a hard blow, without the use of the safety screw 26, tends to cause thering 18 to lose its cant, i.e., move backwardly away from the end of thesleeve-like portion of the cap, opposite the portion engaged by thelocking or canting screw 21. When the cant of the ring 18 is thus lost,it cannot be regained until the screw 21 is withdrawn and then againadvanced. As a result, the pipe member C will be released and will tendto slip-out.

By way of example, the housing 11, the cap 19 and the hand wheels 22 and27 may be of a suitable metal, such as aluminum, aluminum bronze orbrass, the parts 12, 14, 16, 17 and 24 of bronze or steel, the parts 20,23, 25 and 28 of steel or iron, and the part 13 of a natural or resinrubber. The grommets 12, 24 and 25 may, if desired, be cast in theirrespective mounting bores.

It will be noted that the sleeve 14 serves to reinforce or maintain theshape of the gasket with the bore 11d by supporting it along its innerwall or diameter. It will also be noted that the lower end or seatingface of the gasket 13 has a greater width and inner diameter than theslide sleeve 15, but that a portion of the end of the slide sleeve 16retains the gasket 13 in position, as shown in FIGURE 1, both when thepipe member C is withdrawn and is initially inserted. After the pipemember C has. been fully inserted into a sealing-off relation with theend seating face of the gasket 13, as shown in FIGURE 5, it will beapparent that the gasket is, in eflect, compressed along itslongitudinal axis or length; it is shown as slightly withdrawn fromengagement with the back end or edge of the slide sleeve 16 and slightlybehind the forward edge of the positioning sleeve 14.

The spring 17 functions to normally retain or resiliently urge theannular ring 18 towards or into engagement with the end of thesleeve-like portion of the cap 19; it also noranally tends to resistfollow-up or backward movement of the side portion of the ring 18 whenits opposite side portion is engaged and canted backwardly against theresiliency of the spring by the latching means 21. The safety orpositive retention means 26 cooperates with the portion or side of thering 18 which is opposed to the canted side to positively retain suchportion in its forward or engaging position with respect to the end ofthe sleeve-like portion of the closure cap 19. The spring 17 is free toreturn the ring 18 to its uncanted or planar, pipe-releasing position ofFIGURE I automatically, when the latching means 21 is withdrawn orscrewed forwardly-outwardly from the position of FIGURE 5 to theposition of FIGURE 1, and irrespective of whether or not the safety lockmeans 26 is or is not in its inner engaging position of FIGURE 5.

It will be further noted that the sleeve-like portion of the cap 19 andthe slide sleeve 16 have inner diameters that substantially correspondto the outer diameter of the pipe member C, in order to that the lattermay be freely slid into and out of position within the bore of thelongitudinal housing 11 when the latching means 21 is released. Theconstruction of my coupling is such that its inner parts, such as 13,14-, 15, 16, 17 and 18 may be easily inserted and removed from theforward end of its longitudinal bore by removing the end cap 19. Thisfacilitates the maintenance of the construction.

Although for the purpose of illustration, I have shown a suitableconstruction embodying my invention, it will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art that various modifications may be made withoutdeparting from its spirit and scope as'indicated by the appended claims.

I claim: I

1. A quickly-detachable locking type of fluid sealingolf coupling forconnecting an end portion of a fluid carrying pipe member to a fluidsupply line which comprises, a longitudinally-extending coupling housinghaving a through-extending bore, means mounted within a back end portionof said bore for securely-connecting it to the fluid supply line, anannular gasket positioned in a back end portion of said bore adjacentsaid means, means cooperating with said gasket to support it in positionwithin said here for defining a forwardly-exposed end seat portion aboutsaid gasket, a front closure cap mounted on a forward end portion ofsaid housing and having a 'backwardly-projecting sleeve-like portionextending along said bore, an annular ring resting on the back end ofsaid sleeve-like portion, a tension spring operatively-positioned withinsaid bore to resiliently hold said ring in abutment with the back end ofsaid sleevelike portion, safety means carried by said housing andprojecting into said bore and cooperating with said spring to positivelylock and maintain and adjacent portion of said ring securely in positionagainst the back end of said sleeve-like portion, and cant screw meansoperatively-carried by said housing and having a head constructed toproject in said bore and engage a transversely opposite portion of saidring in an angular relation to move the opposite portion backwardlyagainst the tension of said spring into a canted relation within saidbore, and with respect to the positively locked portion of said mg.

2. A quickly-detachable locking type of fluid sealingotf coupling asdefined in claim 1 wherein, said cap has a forward flange portioncooperating with a forward end of said housing, and means cooperateswith said forward flange portion and said housing for removablysecuringsaid cap in position on said housing.

3. A quickly-detachable locking type of fluid sealingoft coupling asdefined in claim 1 wherein said sleevelike portion, said spring and saidmeans for positioning said gasket define inner wall portions forslidably-receiving the end portion of the pipe member within saidhousing and for passing its back end into an adjacent position with theend seat of said gasket.

4. A quickly-detachable locking type of fluid sealingofl coupling =asdefined in claim 3 wherein, means adjustably positions said cant screwto extend angularly within said housing, whereby said head willfrictionally-advance the opposite portion of said ring into a cantedrelation with respect to and on the pipe member, and said ring duringsuch canting movement is adapted to advance the back end of the pipemember into a tight fluid sealing-off engagement with the end seat ofsaid gasket.

'5. In a quickly-detachable locking type of fluid sealing-ofl? couplingfor connecting an end portion of a fluidcarrying pipe member to a fluidsupply line which comprises, .a longitudinally-extending couplinghousing having a through-extending ibore, means at a back end of saidhousing for securely-connecting the back end of said bore to the fluidsupply line, an annular gasket positioned in said bore forwardly of saidmeans, .a slide sleeve positioned in said bore in partial longitudinalendwise alignment with and forwardly of said gasket and having a largerinner diameter than said gasket, a tension spring positioned in saidbore in longitudinal alignment with and forwardly of said slide sleeveto at its back end abut the forward end of said sleeve, a locking ringloosely-positioned in said bore to abut the front end of said spring, acap remova'bly-secured on a forward end portion of said housing andhaving a sleeve portion extending backwardly along said bore to positionsaid annular ring therein; said slide sleeve, spring, annular ring andsleeve portion being adapted to slid-ably-receive the end portion of thepipe member therein and pass its end into a substantially abuttingposition with said gasket; adjustably cant screw meansoperativelycarried by said housing and having a head positioned toengage a portion of said ring in an angular relation and cant suchportion into a locking-canted relation about the pipe member against theforce exerted by said spring and hold the pipe member in fluidsealing-off abutment with said gasket, and safety lock meansoperativelycarried by said housing in a transversely opposed relationwith respect to said adjustable cant screw means for movement into andout of a positive holding position with respect to an opposite portionof said ring for securely locking and maintaining the opposite portionof said ring in a fixed abutting position with the inner end of saidsleeve portion and against release of the canted relation of said ring.

6. In a quickly-detachable locking type of fluid sealing-01f couplingfor connecting an end portion of a fluid-carrying pipe member to a fluidsupply line which comprises, a longitudinally-extending coupling housinghaving a through-extending bore, means at a back end of said housing forsecurely-connecting the back end of said bore to the fluid supply line,an annular gasket positioned in said bore forwardly of said means, aslide sleeve positioned in said bore in partial longitudinal endwisealignment with and forwardly of said gasket and having a larger innerdiameter than said gasket, a tension spring positioned in said bore inlongitudinal alignment with and forwardly of said slide sleeve to at itsback end abut the forward end of said sleeve, a locking ringloosely-positioned in said bore to abut the front end of said spring, acap removably-secured on a forward end portion of said housing andhaving a sleeve portion extending b-ackwardly along said ibore toposition said annular ring therein; said slide sleeve, spring, annularring and sleeve portion being adapted to slidably-receive the endportion of the pipe member therein and pass its end into a substantiallyabutting position with said gasket;

adjustable locking means operatively-carried by said housing to engage aportion of said ring and cant it into a locking-canted relation aboutthe pipe member against the force exerted by said spring and hold thepipe member in fluid sealing-off abutment with said gasket, safety lockmeans operatively-carried by said housing in an opposed relation withrespect to said adjustable locking means for movement into and out of aholding position with respect to an opposite portion of said ring forpositively retaining the opposite portion of said ring in a fixedabutting position with the inner end of said sleeve portion, and saidsafety lock means having a wedgeshaped head to engage betweenconvolutions of said spring at the forward end thereof to force aforward convolution of said spring into tight holding abutment with anadjacent portion of said ring.

7. A quickly-detachable locking type of fluid sealingoif coupling forconnecting an end portion of a fluidcarrying pipe member to a fluidsupply line which comprises, a longitudinally-extending coupling housinghaving a bore extending therealong from a back end to a forward end ofsaid housing, means at the back end of said housing forsecurely-connecting the back end of said bore to the fluid supply line,an annular gasket positioned in said bore adjacent the back end thereof,a sleeve-like means extending along an inner diameter of said gasket forpositioning it within said bore, a slide sleeve having a greater innerdiameter than said gasket positioned in said bore to abut a forward endof said gasket and hold it against forward movement in said bore, atension spring positioned in said bore in longitudinal alignment withsaid slide sleeve to hold said slide sleeve in engagement with saidgasket, a locking ring loosely-positioned in said bore at the forwardend of said spring to cooperate therewith, a cap removably-secured tosaid body at its forward end portion and having a sleeve portionextending backwardly along said bore to position said locking ring in acooperating relation with said spring; said slide sleeve, spring,locking ring and sleeve portion being adapted to slida'bly-receive theend portion of the pipe member therein and pass its end portion into acooperating adjacent position with the forward and of said gasket;locking means operatively-carried by siad housing to engage a portion ofsaid ring and advance it backwardly along the pipe member against theresiliency of said spring into a canted relation, said ring during itsmovement into a canted relation being adapted to advance the pipe memberinto tight fluid sealing-off abutment with the forward end of saidgasket, and safety means operatively-carried by said housing to lock anopposite portion of said ring in position against said sleeve portionand maintain such opposite portion of said ring against backward slidingmovement with respect to the pipe member and release of it from itscanted relation.

8. A quickly-detachable locking type of fluid sealingoff coupling asdefined in claim 7 wherein, said means for securely-connecting the backend of said bore to the fluid supply line comprises, aninternally-threaded grommet securely-mounted within an enlarged back endportion of said bore, said annular gasket is of sleeve-like constructionand is positioned within a slightly enlarged portion of said bore, saidsleeve-like means has an outwardly-projecting flange at its back end toabut said threaded grommet and receive a back end portion of said gasketin abutment therewith, said slide sleeve is positioned in a portion ofsaid bore that is enlarged with respect to the portion within which saidgasket is positioned, said spring is positioned in a further enlargedportion of said bore, said slide sleeve has an outwardlyprojectingflange at its forward end to abut the back end of said spring withinsaid further enlarged portion of said bore, and said sleeve-like portionof said cap is positioned within said further enlarge-d bore in abutmentwith said annular ring.

9. A quickly-detachable locking type of fluid sealingoff coupling asdefined in claim 7 wherein, said housing has an angular boss portionprojecting forwardly thereof at its forward end portion, said angularboss-like portion has an internally-threaded grommet securely positionedtherein, and said locking means is a threaded stern adjustably-mountedwithin said threaded grommet to project along said angular boss-likeportion into cooperative abutment with a portion of said ring.

10. A quickly-detachable locking type of fluid sealingoff coupling asdefined in claim 7 wherein, said housing has a side boss portionprovided with a transverse bore therein open to said longitudinal bore,an internally-threaded grommet is threadably secured in said transversebore, and said safety means is a screw adjustablypositioned within thethreaded bore of said grommet and having a cone-shaped forward endportion to engage between adjacent convolutions of said spring.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,831,856 11/1931 Pullman 285-340X 1,889,868 12/1932 Montgomery 285-375 2,401,351 6/1946 Herbst et a1.287-53 2,691,537 10/1954 Bashark 285-340 2,805,873 9/1957 Brennan et al285-353 3,061,869 11/1962 Scalo et a1. 287-53 2,819,733 1/1958 Maisch285-375 X CARL W. TOMLIN, Primary Examiner.

W. L. SHEDD, Assistant Examiner.

